Fastener for sap-bucket covers



(Model) B. P. COUCH.

FASTENER FOR- SAP BUCKET COVERS.

Patented Dec. 22, 1885. WF

WITNESSES: DTVENTOR:

46% I BY ATTORNEYS.

Lin.

' I 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

BURT F. COUCH, OF GARRETTSVILLE, OHIO.

FASTENER FOR SAP-BUCKET COVERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 332,788, dated December22, 1885.

Application filed February 24, 1885. Serial No. 156,922. (ModcL) To awhom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BURT F. Oouoruof Garrettsville, in the county ofPortage and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Fastener forSap-Bucket Covers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention, although applicable to other buckets or vessels, is moreespecially designed to be used on sap-buckets, and it will here bedescribed more particularly with reference to such use.

The invention consists in a detachable fastener of novel constructionfor the cover of the bucket or vessel, substantially as hereinafterdescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the upper portion of asap-bucket in part, with the cover in part secured to thebucket by myimproved fastener, the cover being shown as raised; and Fig. 2 is avertical section showing the cover closed.

A is the bucket, which may either be made of wood or metal, but is heresupposed to be made of metal, as usual, with the customary hole, I), inits side near its top, immediately under its wired edge 0 for the spout,which is driven into the tapped tree, and on which the buckethangs topass through. Bis the cover, which may be made of tin or other metal ormaterial, and either be flat or shaped so as to prevent rain and snowfrom gathering and freezing on it. The fastener is composed of two mainpieces-that is to say, a clasp-piece, C, and a loop-piece,Dboth of whichmay be made of spring-wire or other material, suitably coated or not,and which combined constitute a detachable hinge constructed to rise orproject above the edge of the bucket. The clasp portion C of thishinge-fastening is constructed to form a central downwardly-extendingbow, d, which is slipped down the inside of thebucket and passesbeneaththe spoutaperture b in the bucket, and is further constructed at theupper end of the bowed part with coiled lateral extensions ee,consisting of any number of coils each, and terminating in outside armsor legs, ff, that pass down the outside of the bucket. The clasp-pieceC,thus constructed and applied, is pressed down to its place over therim of the bucket, and firmly clasps the rim and remains, excepting whenit is required to detach it, in a fixed position by its spring-grip onthe bucket. The movable or working piece D of the hinge is in the formof a loop soldered or otherwise secured to the cover B, and freelypassing, at its outer end, where it is bent upwardly as a hinge-pin,through the coiled eyes 6 e.

The whole hinge-fastening device is not restricted to any one side ofthe bucket, but applied to a sap-bucket, it should be arranged on theside next to the tree, but may be arranged on the side opposite the onefrom which the sap is poured,at the option of the user.

Other sap-buckets have had their covers so fitted as either they must beremoved entirely to empty the bucket, or else the cover be unfastenedbefore the bucket could be emptied; but by my improved hinge-fasteningthe tipping of the bucket and pressure of the sap on the cover of thebucket cause the cover to swing away from the bucket,out of the way ofthe stream of sap, which of course can be poured with equal facilityfrom either side of the bucket. When the bucketis emptied and returnedto an upright position, the cover, by its own weight, drops intoits-closing position on the bucket. If it is desired to turn the bucketupside down,to drain, the cover hangs below the bucket next to thetree,wholly out of the way, and when the bucket is reversed again the coverresumes its closing position. The wind cannot disturb the cover whenfitted with this hinge-fastening, which, moreover, is neat, substantial,and durable, and very easily 0 applied, also as readily detached when itis required to remove the cover from the bucket.

The joint of the hinge-fastening being elevated above the top of thebucket, it causes the drop-cover to wholly rise from the bucket, so thatthe stream of sap will not be choked or be caused to spatter.

Such removable hinge-fastening may be applied to covers and buckets orvessels of different kinds.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. The within described detachable hinge the bucketclasp 0, having inner and outer for sap and other buckets or vessels,the same downward clamping portions, d f, and outer consisting of astationary clasp, 0, having a upper opposite lateral extensions, 6,arranged 15 central bowed portion, d, and coiled outer side to projectabove the edge of the bucket, and

5 extensions, 6 e, terminating in arms or legs f serving to receive theloop-piece Das ahingef, and the loop or bail D, with its cross-bar pinfreelythrough them,substantially as specipass ;d freely tlljiroggh thecoiledbexteizsiolns e, tied. and orming t e inge-pin, su stan ia y asand for the purpose set forth. BURT COUCH 1o 2. The combination, withthe bucketA and Witnesses:

its cover B, of the loop-piece D, secured to the J. B. KNOWLTON, coverand bent upward at its outer end, and A. D. HOSKIN.

